The diagnostic value of double-balloon enteroscopy in small intestinal diseases

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of double-balloon enteroscopy for small bowel diseases.Methods Among 45 cases with negative findings of other routine diagnostic modalities such as supersound,CT,gastric endoscopy,and colonic enteroscopy,10 cases with abdominal pain,8 cases with diarrhea,19 cases with obscure GI bleeding,3 cases with both abdominal pain and melena,and 5 cases with both abdominal pain and diarrhea.Double-balloon enteroscopy was performed and the findings were analysed.Results Three patients were examined via mouth route,5 via anus route,37 patienta with both mouth route and anus route.Lesions were detected in 37 of 45 patients,positive rate was 82.2%.In 19 cases with obscure GI bleeding,15 cases(78.9%)obtained final diagnosis.The diagnostic rate was 80%,75%,100%and 100%in 10 cases with abdominal pain,8 cases with diarrhea,3 cases both with abdominal pain and melena,and 5 cases with both abdominal pain and diarrhea,respectively.No severe side effects and complications were observed. Conclusions Double-balloon enteroscopy was safe,reliable,and its positive rate was elevated.It provided an effective method for diagnosis of small bowel diseases.